Drying machine



oct. 29, 1929. T. ALLSOP ETAL 1,734,001;

DRYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1919 s Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTORS:

Y 1 /V@ Y A TTURNEYS 1929- I T. ALLSOP ET AL 1,734,001

I DRYING MACHINE Fil ed Nov. 14. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1 FICT. I.

WITNESSES:

' INVENTORS:

A TTORNEYS I Tiwznass flllsop i W wall/aria 5125010,

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS ALLSOP AND WALTER W. SIBSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-.

SIGNORS TO THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA DRYING MACHINE Application filed November 14, 1919. Serial No. 338,077.

Our invention relates to drying machines,

' and especially machines or apparatus adapted for drying china, porcelain, or crockery wares. The invention is concerned with various phases of ceramic drying, including the mode and conditions of application of the drying medium to the material to be dried, and also the presentation of the material to the medium. We aim to dry the articles thoroughly, rapidly, uniformly, and economically; to give the drying apparatus large capacity in proportion to its size; and to obviate or minimize loss of heat that may be provided for drying the articles, or exposure of the workmen to such heat.

How these and other advantages can be realized through the invention will appear from our'description hereinafter of a doubleended type of apparatus suitable for our purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I, is a longitudinal sectional view of a drying machine embodyin our invention.

Fig. II, is a iagrammatic sectional view similar to Fig. 1, indicating the air circulation within the enclosure and the subdivision by which such circulation is determined.

Fig. III, is a fragmentary sectional view 7 on a larger scale than Figs. I and II of a neutral end channel through which the conveyorshown in Figs. I and IIpasses 1n the course of its circuit within the enclosure, and which is provided with an opening accessible from the exterior, so that the conveyor may be readily unloaded after the completlon of the drying operation.

Fig. IV, is a fragmentary sectional view of a similar channel at the opposite end of ing uni-ts shown inFigi I.

the machine, at which the articles to be dried are introduced.

Fig. V, is an elevation of one of the carriers of the conveyor, on a larger scale than Figs. I-IV. v

Fig. VI, is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the heat- Fig. VII, is across sectional view through the heating unit, showing the manner in which the same is removably mounted in the dryer.

ber 2 and narrower spaces or channels 3 and 4, separated from said chamber 2 by partitions 5, 5 at the ends-of the chamber 2. As

shown, the transverse partitions 5, 5- are partly upright or vertical, and partly inclined as at 6, 6, and supplemented with inward horizontal extensions 7, 7.

These solid partitions 5, 5 serve to exclude the circulation of'air in the chamber 2 from the spaces 3, 4-, thus leaving them neutralin this respect. A definite air flow lengthwise (horizontally) in the chamber 2 may be produced, as here shown, by propelling means (fans) 16, 17, arranged at the ends of the chamber. A conveyor 18 (indicated by dot and dash lines) progresses the articles through the enclosure 1 in a plurality of passes back and forth (up and down) across the air flow, and the airmay be heated as hereinafter described. By rotating the fans 16, 17 in opposite directions (if of like pitch), opposite currents of air may be producedin the ends of the chamber2. I

' To assist in the circulation of air, provision may be made for separate return flow, by means of horizontal partitioning at,9, parallelling but spaced from corresponding walls of the enclosure 1 and extending outward to the fans 16, 17. In the present instance, the horizontal return ducts 12, 13 thus formed in the ends or halves of the enclosure 1 are the partitions 5, 5, but also communicate with the interior or mid-region of the chamber 2, through a common central opening 15 formed by an interval between sections 9, 9 of the horizontal partitioning. Accordingly, the fans 16, 17 circulate the air horizontally along and around each of the partitions 9, 9, length- In correspondence wise of the chamber 2, with flow one way above each partition and return beneath it. Thus there are two independent circulatory courses (indicated by the arrows in Fig. II) which come together in the region of the opening 15, yet retain their individuality by virtue of their 0 posite directions of circulation, even in t e absence of any definite I division or septum between them. As shown,

there are transverse (upright or vertical) partitions 8, 8 inside the partitions 5, 5, extending from the partitions 9, 9. to the horizontal portions 7,7 of the hood-like structures 5, 6, 7, 5', 6, 7, with suitable openings for the fans 16, 17. These partitions 8, 8 coact with the structures 5, 6, 7, 5, 6, 7 to form return compartments behind the fans 16, 17 opening into theducts 12 13 at their lower ends.

l3esides carrying the articles through the chamber 2 from right to left in a substantially sinuous or looping circuitous course, as already described, the conveyor 18 emerges over the hood structure 5, 5 and passes through the 4 channels 3, 4 at either end, so as to be accessible througllli openings 19 and 20, respectively, for t e purposes of loading and unloading. From the unloading opening 20, at the left, the conveyor 18 makes a return pass through the channels 13, 12 to the loading openin 19. Followin the arrows in Fig. II, it will e noted that t e air is blown inward by the fans 16, 17 toward the centre of the drying chamber-2 from either end, so that the currents tendto counteract and neutralize one another as they come together, and to divert or deflect one another ddwnward. Also, the air is drawn downward into the return ducts 12,13 by the suction of the fans 16, 17 through these ducts. In case of idleness of one of the fans 16, 17on the other hand, theair from the other would blow through the idle fan and descend behind it into the return duct 12, 13 besides passing down into said duct through the opening 15. The channels 3, 4, however, remain more or less neutral,- without an objectionable tendency for air to be either b own out or sucked in at theopenings 19, 20, so that the articles can be placed 'on the conveyor 18 at the former, and removed at the latter, without any particular I inconvenience or discomfort.

As the articles rise from the opening 19 through the channel 3 and pass inward over the hood portions 6 and 7, they are subject to a relatively mild degree of heat, and thus drying begins gently. As they reach the interior of the chamber 2 and travel up tendency for the windward side to dry more than the leeward side is compensated for.

'Besides this variation as regards direction and angle of impingement of the air, it will be observed that in the region of transition from one fans influence to the other,-and especially at the low point of the central conveyor loop over the opening 15,the air of the two currents strikes the articles from all sides at once, and from every angle, owing to.

the eddies and irregularities that ate caused by the convergence and impact of the currents. As shown in Fig. I, the air and the articles are heated by a series of radiators arran ed at intervals in the length of the cham 'er 2, adjacent and between various conveyor passes. As shown, there is a heater 60 directly in front of each fan 16, 17 and one at either side of the central conveyor loop aforementioned. These heaters 60 vary in.

heatin ca acity according to their distance from t e ans 16, 17,'increasing from right to leftfwith the progress of the articles through the chamber 2. Thus the articles encounter air of progressively higher temremoved. In this interval, they have an unloaded conveyor returns through the ducts 13, 12 to the opening 19, as already mentioned. In the latter part of this return, it is subjected only to the less highly heated return opportunity to cool gradually somewhat. The

air in the duct 12, so that its temperature at the loading opening '19 is not at all excessive. It is of course to be understood that the fans 16, 17 may be reversed, soas to propel air over the circulatory courses hereinbefore indicated in directions opposite to those shown in Fig. II.

As illustrated in Fig. V, therconveyor 18 1 comprises a pair of endless sprocket chains 25, 25 between which are hung carriers such as indicated at 26. These carriers 26 have end brackets 27, 27, which are pivotally suspended from the sprocket chains 25, 25, and united by transverse tie-bars 28. Opposite one another on the brackets 27, 27 of each carrier 26 are lugs or ledges 29, 29 adapted for sustaining removable supporting shelves 30, whereon the articles to be dried may be arranlged in any convenient manner. As shown in igs. I and II, the conveyor chains 25, 25 are guided over aseries of sprockets conventionally represented at 31, and so arranged as to cause the conveyor 18 to trace the circuit- 'ous course above referred to. The conveyor system is driven by means of a worm gear 32 mounted on a shaft 33, and meshingwith a worm 34, on a shaft 35. The shaft 35 has driven through a belt 37 from an overhead main or power line shaft 38. The fans 16 and 17 are driven indirectly from the same source,

by means of a belt connection 39 to a counter shaft 40, itself belt connected at 41, 42 to shafts 43, 44 that ex'tend'into the enclosure 1 V and have bevel gear connections 45, 46 to the fan shafts 47, 48. As shown, the gear connec- V tions 45, 46 are reversely arranged, so as to drive the fans 16, 17 in opposite directions, as mentioned above.

In order to prevent swinging of the carriers 26 during loading of the conveyor through the opening 19 at the right hand end of the structure, we have provided in the channel 3, at a point opposite this opening, a gauge plate 50, secured to the partition 5.

s the carriers 26 pass the opening 19, thegauge plate engages the projecting portions 51 of their end brackets 27 andv keeps them from swinging inward during the mounting of the shelves 30. Said gauge plate also limits inward movement of'the shelves 30 when they are being placed upon the supporting lugs 29,29. As shown in Figs. I

and IV, deflector strips 52, 52-are arranged along the path of the carriers 26, 26 after loading, for. the purpose of aligning or centralizing the supporting shelves 30 upon the carriers. Said strips 52, 52 are mounted at opposite sides of the channel 3, and have oppositely sloped portions 53'which engage the edges of the supporting shelves 30 and shift them one way or the other upon the carriers 26 as they ascend. By thus properly positioning the shelves 30 upon the carriers 26 the possibility of'interference orcollision between any of them as they swing independently about their suspension pivots in rounding the several sprockets 31 in the course ,of their traverse through the enclosure is positively obviated. At the left hand end of the machine (see Figs. I and III) meansare shown for preventing swinging of the carriers 26 during the removal of the shelves 30, in the form of guard strips 55, one located at the ends or sides of theaccess opening 20 for engaging the projecting portions 51 of the carrier brackets and opposing the pull on the brackets when the shelves are being removed. 3

In Figs. VI, VII and VIII, we have shown in detail a heating unit comprising a series of superimposed zig-zag or serpentine. coils part of the skeleton structure of the dryer, (see Fig. I' also). The several'coils 60 are secured at their upper ends by bridging plates 65, 65, which are appropriately notched, as best seen in Fig. VII, to fit over their top pipe lengths. Saidbridging plates 65, are secured to horizontal angle bars 66, and the lattenare adjustably clamped, as shown at 67 and- 68, toelements 8 and'69, forming part of the skeleton structure of the dryer. Thus constructed the heating units may be readily disassembled for repairs, 7

or for any other purposes, and with like facility again remounted. Such heating units may be built of any desired number of coils 60. As shown in Fig. I, the heating units may be arranged between adjacent vertical runs or elements of the course of the conveyor 18, and may he graduated in number of component coils 60 and consequent heating capacity. In some cases, it is desirable to have the main or largest heating unit of the series near the delivery end of the drying chamber 2, as shown and as already described, so that ual manner, from the beginning of the operation progressively to its close; and in other cases, a reverse arrangement may be desirable, depending entirely uponthe nature of the materials being treated, or the result desired.

If desired, the upper faces of the bridging plates 65, as shown in Fig. VI, may be channeled like the plates 63, so that one heating unit may be superimposed upon another in dryingstructures of greater vertical dimensions than the type shown in the illustrations.

It will be seen that by placing theheating units transversely, as shown in Fig. I, the air currents are effectively broken up, as a result ofwhich a thorough distribution and dissipation is obtained, and uniform drying accordingly facilitated.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure including a drying compartment, with means for producing flow of air lengthwise in said compartment, and transverse partitions at the ends thereof for excluding the air circulation from the spaces beyond, means for conveying material to be dried through said drying compartment in a course including a plurality of passes across the air flow, and means for heating the air to sta'ges in through, transverse partitions in "said enclosure for limiting the air circulation, and heating means at intervals between said part1- ti'ons, varying in heatingcapacity according 1 .acting air currents through said chamber.

' mutually divertingcircuits.

to their distancefrom said flow-producing means.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure, means for conveying material to be dried through the enclosure in a course including a plurality of up and down passes, means for producing an air flow in a horizontal direction across said passes, and heating means between passes varying in heating capacity according to their distance from said flow-producing means.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, and means for producing-opposing and mutually counter- -5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, and fans opposite one another at its ends for circulating the air in opposing currents through said cham- 6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, and means opposite one another in its ends for producing opposing and mutually counteracting air currents in a horizontal direction therethrough.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, fans opposite one another at its ends for circulating air lengthwise of the chamber, and means be tween said fans for heating the air.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, fans opposite one another at its ends for circulating air lengthwise of the chamber, I and heating means at intervals between said fans, increasing in heating capacity from one toward the other. i

- 9. Apparatus of 'the character described comprising a drying chamber, means for conveying materials-to be dried therethrough, and opposed propelling means for directing the drying medium on the articles in opposing and mutually counteractin currents, and thus from different angles of impingement.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber, means for conveying material'to be dried therethrough, and means .for circulating the drying medium therein in a plurality of opposite and 11. A drying machine, including in combination, an enclosure, means for progressing articles to be dried therethrough, and opposfn'gair propelling means for directing air along the path of movement of the articles so that they are subjected alternately to air impingement at opposite sides, and to air im-- pingement simultaneously at all sides.

a 12. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drying chamber; fans opposite one another at'its ends for producingoppir sitely moving air currents; and means progressing materialto be driedthrough the enclosure, from one fan toward the other, in a course including a plurality of passes across the air flow.

positely moving air currents; means for progressing material to be dried through the en closure, from one fan toward the other, in a course includinga plurality of passes across the air flow, and means for subjectin ent stages in its travel.

14.Apparatus-of the character described comprising an enclosure; means for produczontal direction therein; and meansfor conveying material to be dried through the en closure in a course including substantially vertical passes, and for subjecting the ma-- terial to both currents simultaneously at a stage in its travel. a .15. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure; means for producmg oppositelymovmg air currents 1n a hori- "zontal direction therein; and means for conveying material to be dried through the'enclosure in a course including substantially mg oppositely moving air-currents 1n a henvertical passes, and for subjecting the material to the respective currents at corresponding stages of its travel, and to both currents simultaneously at an, intermediate stage comprising an enclosure; means for producmg oppositel moving air currents 1n a hori- 16. Apparatus of the character described zontal direction therein; means for conveying material to be dried through the enclosure in a course including substantially vertical passes, and for subjecting the material to the respective currents at corresponding stages of its travel and to both currents simultaneously at an intermediate stage; and means for heatin said currents to different temperatures at of the material.

17. Apparatus of the character described comprising a subdivided enclosure including a drying chamber, with auxiliary compartments at its ends, and a channel connecting each of said compartments with said ifiierentstages in the travelchamber; and air propelling means between said chamber and each of said compartments for circulating the air in "distinct circuits through the drying chamber and. said channel and compartments.

18. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure, air propelling means opposite one another in its ends for producing mutually counteracting air currents, means for return flow to said propelling means, and means for progressing material to be dried through the enclosure, so that the same is subjected to air impinges ment at opposite sides in the respective cur- 75 the material to different temperatures at ifi'er-.

Sing a drying ,partments at its ends, and a channel connect- "rents and at all sides simultaneously in the region of contact of the currents.

19. Apparatus of the character described comprising a subdivided enclosure includchamber with auxiliary com- 1 ing each of said compartments with said I chamber; air propelling means between said {chamber and each of said compartments for" circulating the air in distinct circuits through the drying chamber and said channel and compartments, and means for conveying ma terial to be dried through the drying chamtion from the spaces beyond, and means for conveying materialto be dried traversing the enclosure in a course including up and down passes between said propelling means and through said spaces beyond the partitions.

22. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure; horizontal partitions in said enclosure spaced from a corre spending wall thereof; and means for producing oppositely moving air currents substantially parallel with said partitions.

23. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure; horizontal partitions in said enclosure spaced from a correspondingwall thereof; and means for producing a circulation of air along and around each of said partitions.

24., Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure; horizontal partitions in saidenclosure spaced from thebottom thereof; and fans above said partitions for producing oppositely mov ng air currents in the ends of the enclosure, with re-' turn beneath said partitions. f

25. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure including a drying chamber; horizontal partitions in said en closure spaced from the bottom thereof; fans above said horizontal partitions for circulating air along and around each of them; and upright partitions at the ends of said drying chamber for excluding the air circulation from the spaces beyond.

26. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure; a horizontalpartition in each end of said enclosure spaced from a corresponding wall thereof, with an interval-- between said partitions; means for producing oppositely: moving air currents at one side of said partitions; and-means for conveying material to' lbedried through the enclosure in a'course including a plurality ofpasses across the air 'flow,subjecting the articles to one'of said. currents'at a stage" of its travel and the other at another stage.

comprising'an enclosure; a horizontal parti 27.'Apparatus of the character-described 2 tion in each end of said enclosure-spaced} from a corresponding wall thereof, With -an I interval between said partitions a means; for

producing oppositely moving aircurrents at one side of said partitions; and means for conveying material to be dried through the enclosure in a course including a plurality of passes across the air flow, subjecting'the articles to one of said currents at a stage of its travel and to thevother at anotherstage, w th a reversal in direction of travel adjacent the interval between said partitions.

28. Apparatus of .the character described comprising an enclosure including a drying chamber; horizontal partitions in said enclosure spaced from the bottom thereof; fans above said horizontal partitions forcir'culat- ,ing air along and around each of. them; upright partitions at the ends of saiddryingv chamber for excluding the air circulation $5 from the spaces beyond; and means for conveying material to be dried traversing the enclosure in a' course including up and 'down passes between the fans and in said spaces beyond said upright partitions, and also a pass beneath said horizontal partitions.

29. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure with an opening in its wall, a conveyor for material tobe dried accessible'through said opening, and having suspended'carri'ers and means for engaging the carriers to keep them from swinging during loading or unloading.

30. Apparatus of the characterv describedcomprising an enclosure with an opening in its wall; a conveyor for material'to be dried accessible through said opening and having carriers for removable shelves; and gauge means opposite said opening for limiting inward movement of the shelves when being placed on the carriers. 1

' I .31. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure with an opening in 7 its wall; a conveyor for material to be dried accessible through said opening and having carriers for, removable mater al supports;

and means for aligning said supports as they travel alongwith the carriers, V I

32. Apparatus of the character described comprising anenclosure withan opening in its wall; a'conveyor for material to be dried accessible through said opening and having suspended carriers for removable material supports; means for engaging the carriers to prevent them from swinging during placing its wall; a conveyor. for material to be dried accessible through said opening and having carriers for removable shelves; and gauge means opposite said opening located to engage both carriers and shelves, and thus prevent swinging of the carriers and limit inward movement of the shelves when being placed on the carriers.

35. Apparatus of the character described a horizontal direction and moving opposite to each other, the articles being subjected to theaction of one of said currents at a stage v of their travel and being subjected to the 5 action of the other current at another stage of their travel and being subjected to the simultaneous action of-both of said air curcomprising an enclosure with an internal channel ad acent its wall and an openlng thereinto; a conveyor for material to be dried emerging into said channel, so as to be accessible through said opening, and having suspended carriers for removable shelves; and

means in said channel for engaging the carriers to keep them from swinging during placing or removal of the shelves."

36. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosure with an internal channel adjacent its wall and an opening thereinto; a conveyor for material to be'dried emerging into said channel, so as to be acces-i sible through said opening, and having suspended carriers for removable shelves, and deflectors at the sides of the channel beyond saidppening for aligning the shelves on the carriers.

37. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure, :1 carrier for transporting articles to be'dried from end to end of said enclosure in a course including substantially vertical elements, means 'for generating air currents in a substantially horizontal direction .and moving oppositely to each other, said articles being subjected to the action of one of said currents at a stage of their travel and to the other current at another stage of their travel, and subjected to the simultaneous action of both said currents at another stage of their travel, the stage of travel during which the articles are submitted to said simultaneous action of both said currents being intermediate said other stages of travel.

38. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising, an enclosure, carrier means for transporting articles to be dried from end to end of said enclosure in a course. including two substantially vertical paths; two means for generating air currents in substantially 

